Pokemon LeafGreen Version

"Green Green Grass"

So, this is what we are down to for the Pokemon series now days? Remakes? Why though, can not these developers think of something new? But wait, is it true? These remakes are actually good? Blasphemy, there is no way you could be right? But it is, it is. An actual good idea, that turned out to be a pretty fun, and new adventure, even if we already knew what was going to happen…

We go back to where the world of Pokemon, and a large piece of gaming in general started, Kanto. The very first land that we ever visited, and where we painfully watched Ash become the luckiest trainer in the world. The game starts as you, the new kid, moving into town. Professor Oak stops you as you try to leave town, and gives you your first Pokemon, a Bulbasaur, a Charmander, or a Squirtle. As you continue your journey, you battle eight gyms, catch dozens and dozens of new Pokemon, and become the Champion of the Elite 4. And they added some new islands where you can catch Gold/Silver Pokemon and other things. Very cool addition, they weren't just going to make an updated version, they had to do something and not add anything.

How should I explain the complicated and hour long mastering techniques of Pokemon to you? Maybe, it should go something like, fight Pokemon, catch them, fight trainers, and become champion. I know it sounds a little over your head, but bear with me.

But seriously, if you have ever played a handheld Pokemon game, then you already know how the game works, and if not, its simple, You go out, catch wild Pokemon, raise them, and fight with them to become World Champion, and maybe stop an evil corporation bent on world corruption or two. The battle system is probably the easiest to master in all of gaming, and a lot of it is common sense, water beats fire, fire beats grass, ect.

Battling is where this games, and all Pokemon games before it, main emphasis is. Each one of the 6 Pokemon in your party can learn up to four attacks, from a selective move pool that they learn over time, or from special attacks called TM's and HM's, which are attacks you can teach your Pokemon that they normally cant learn or you replaced and want back. Also keeping up with your items such as potions, reviews, rare candy's, which raise your Pokemon a level, and poke balls, all help in taking care of your Pokemon and also catch and raise new ones.

They also added some new features in the game, including new Poke balls, new items, they added move tutors to this version, also new moves and as well as brand new islands, which I mentioned before.

Also newly formed and revamped and is the music and sounds for the game. The same old classic theme song is back, only more retro and to date. All the Pokemon's sounds are great and sound off of the show, well I imagine they do I haven't seen the show in years. The same repetitive beats are back and even though they sound more… better, they are still annoying and go on and on, it's better to play with the sound off really.

Probably the most noticeable changes of the game are the graphics. They look spectacular and give off a great new look to the game. Areas are brighter, and the environments and characters have a lot more details, and more color. Pokemon are defiantly looking better in this installment, they have a wonderful mix of colors, and are truly a work of art for the GBA. They aren't perfect, but they are spectacular, for a handheld game.

Leafgreen in my opinion is the better of the two upgraded versions. Firered has better original Pokemon, but Leafgreen has better Gold/Silver, and there's just something about it that makes it better than Firered. I have both, and can honestly say this one is better. I am going to go with rent, because some people don't like that they changed the original Pokemon game at all, and felt offended or something. I think it was a change for the better, and it is a great buy for me.

The series has taken a change for the better in my opinion and is heading in a great new way. Talk of a DS Pokemon game has pretty much guaranteed a Pokemon game for it, so let's hope that it will take some of the better points of Leafgreen, with its spectacular graphics, and its fun and never gets old game play and helps that one become the best game of the Pokemon series yet.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 12/05/05, Updated 06/14/06